DCO Discourse...

As AI becomes a growing part of how people seek support, what happens when human connection is replaced by conversations with chatbots? This study followed nearly a thousand people over four weeks as they exchanged hundreds of thousands of messages with ChatGPT, examining how factors like tone, conversation style, and interaction type shape emotional wellbeing. Tune in as we unpack what the resear...

This week on DCO Discourse, host Caitlin Plant has a conversation with returning guest Regan about the complexities of Thanksgiving. Specifically, they discuss the impact of Thanksgiving on Indigenous communities and Regan's personal journey of becoming more aware of colonialism's ongoing effects. They explored the holiday's historical context and evolving perspectives, emphasizing the importance...

This week on DCO Discourse, host Vijay speaks with Dr. Neta Gear, Executive Director of DCO and a longtime leader in the mental health field. Together, they dive into a challenging, but crucial conversation: race in therapeutic settings. Dr. Gear unpacks why therapy is rarely truly “race-neutral,” how systemic inequities shape mental health, and why representation among counselors matters for trus...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay continues with the mini-series entitled "Crisis Reports", looking at current literature in the sector. This installment, we look at a paper entitled "Burnout and Professional Quality of Life Amongst Crisis Hotline Responders: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Canada During COVID-19". How are Canada’s crisis-line responders coping with the pressures of the...

In this deeply personal and candid conversation, Vijay sits down with their friend "Sarah" (a pseudonym to protect her privacy), a trans woman with lived experience navigating systemic barriers in mental health care. Recorded in an intimate setting, this episode explores Sarah’s mental health journey and her firsthand experiences with emergency services, psychiatric wards, and crisis lines. She sh...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay and Caitlin turn the spotlight on World Suicide Prevention Day, reflecting on how awareness days help bring vital attention to urgent mental health issues. Together, they explore the work of programs aimed at Suicide Prevention, highlighting the diversity of programs aimed at a common goal. From Sri Lanka’s national pesticide ban to Canada’s Buddy U...

This week, Caitlin Plant and Sabrina Popernitsch, a registered psychotherapist and person with lived experience, discuss Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) as an important tool for increasing accessibility to mental health support and reducing stigma. They explored the key components of MHFA, including the ALGES approach and the importance of person-first care and self-care for those providing support...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay starts a new mini-series entitled "Crisis Reports", looking at current literature in the sector. This installment, we look at a paper entitled "Enhancing Equity on Crisis Lines: Understanding the Background, Practices, and Learning Needs of Responders in Canada". How well do responders handle crises involving mental health concerns like anxiety, dep...

This week, on DCO Discourse… we’ve done something a little bit different. In this episode, Caitlin Plant, Director of Operations at DCO, sat down with her young son to read the book “Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang. After reading the story they talk about what strategies we can use when we are grumpy to feel better, and how we might support others. A synopsis of the story is as follows: “Jim the ch...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay talks with master's student Tristan, Dr. Monica Sesma-Vazquez, and Dr. Tara Collins, academic researchers involved in a study looking at queer callers in crisis line settings. The discussion focused on the challenges faced by queer service users in crisis lines, highlighting the significant mental health disparities within the LGBTQ+ community. Tara...

On this week’s episode of DCO Discourse… Caitlin Plant is joined by her brother, a teacher with six years of experience, to explore how parents can prepare for back-to-school season with intention. Using added insights from a Psychology Today article, also titled Back-to-School Parenting ( https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/a-different-kind-of-therapy/202408/back-to-school-parenting ), they e...

This week on DCO Discourse, host Christina Droumtsekas is joined by Caitlin Plant to talk about the hidden emotional weight of summer. From FOMO and disrupted routines to grief triggers and social media comparison, we’re holding space for the parts of summer no one talks about. Summer is often portrayed as a season of joy, sunshine, and connection—but for many, it can be a time of&n...

This week on DCO Discourse, podcast host Christina Droumtsekas, is speaking about reimagining self-care—not as bubble baths or luxury escapes, but as everyday survival. Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s maintenance, nourishment, and coming home to yourself in a world that constantly pulls you away. Whether you’re burnt out, grieving, caregiving—or just tired of “doing it all”—this episode is your remi...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay talks with Dr. Michael Woodford and Dr. Tin Vo, two academic researchers involved in Thriving On Campus, an Ontario-wide study of 2SLGBTQ+ university students’ experiences, wellbeing, and academic development. The discussion centered on the "Thriving on Campus" project, a comprehensive study examining LGBTQ+ students' experiences in Ontario universi...

This week, in a miniature solo episode, Caitlin Plant, Director of Operations at Distress and Crisis Ontario, shares some research on parenting over the summer. Specifically, this episode explores strategies to support their summer experience including trying new things, fostering supportive relationships, providing opportunities for learning, managing screen time, and encouraging boredom. The res...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Co-hosts Vijay Moonilal and Caitlin Plant, talk about the experience of coming out to wrap a bow around the end of Pride month. In this (not so) mini episode, we’ll dive into three questions. What was your coming out experience like? What internalized notions have you had to unpack? And what advice would you give to your younger self about identity? As we...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, host Christina Droumtsekas, and guest advocate Regan Roberts shed light on the lived experience of traumatic brain injury (TBI) during Brain Injury Awareness Week. Roberts, a student intern, writer, and survivor of a life-altering car accident in 2021, shares her deeply personal journey—from a seven-day coma and relearning basic functions to a delayed dia...

In this second of the 2 part series, episode of DCO Discourse for Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, host Christina Droumtsekas sits down with registered psychotherapist Carlton Brown to explore the unique challenges men face regarding mental health. Together, they unpack how masculinity, stigma, and silence can impact men's emotional well-being and how therapy can be a space for healing, vulner...

In this 2 part series, episode of DCO Discourse for Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, host Christina Droumtsekas sits down with registered psychotherapist Carlton Brown to explore the unique challenges men face regarding mental health. Together, they unpack how masculinity, stigma, and silence can impact men's emotional well-being and how therapy can be a space for healing, vulnerability, and g...

In this episode of DCO Discourse, host Christina Droumtsekas sits down with Melanie Brakel, a professional art therapist and registered psychotherapist, to explore the world of art therapy—a practice that uses creative expression to support mental and emotional healing. Together, they discuss: What art therapy is and how it differs from traditional talk therapy or rec...

As we continue with Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Healthy Boundaries, Healthy Minds: Teen consent and mental health, Sex Educator Sandra Allen joins host Christina Droumtsekas to dive into what consent looks like, and mental health. We will unpack what it means to support teens through one of their most formative – and often confusing times. Together, we explore how to talk about...

In this solo episode, Christina Droumtsekas reflects on how digital culture—and the constant stream of filtered images—shapes our self-esteem. Drawing from her personal experiences and art therapy research, she explores how selfies and self-portraiture can serve as tools for reflection, healing, and reclaiming one’s identity. Whether you’re navigating a life transition or simply feeling the weight...

In this solo episode, podcast host Christina Droumtsekas reflects on the kind of grief that lingers—the kind that reshapes who we are and how we move through the world. She opens up about the recent passing of her grandmother and the end of her marriage, sharing honest stories about how loss can show up in unexpected ways. Christina explores how grief isn’t limited to death—it can also come from l...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and in this episode of Stressed Out: How to Cope Before You Burn Out, host Christina Droumtsekas is joined by Registered Psychotherapist Tracey Sebastian for an honest conversation about one of the most common mental health struggles we all face—stress. Together, they explore how stress shows up in our bodies and minds, the connection between chronic stress and...

In this episode, Christina Droumtsekas is joined by Val Brosseau, and together they explore the difference between being in distress or in crisis, and knowing when to reach out for help. They will also discuss the role of a crisis responder and what you can expect when you call a support line. To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit...